The last Boeing 747 Freighter operated by Qatar Airways Cargo has flown for the final time after arriving at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Qatar.
The Boeing 747F, known as the ‘Queen of the Skies’, made its journey to Doha from Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) in Spain on March 1, 2024.
After a flight lasting over five hours the 747F, registered A7-BGB, made its final touchdown for Qatar Cargo Airlines at 15:00 local time.
A7-BGB joined the Qatar Airways Cargo fleet on September 26, 2017, and has spent the last seven years with another 747F deployed on more than 9,000 flights totaling over 66,000 block hours and together transporting almost 800,000 tons.
The most visited destination A7-BGB traveled to was Incheon International Airport (ICN) in South Korea, at 1,165 flights.
Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Guangzhou were also among the top 10 destinations the cargo aircraft served.
EASY! @qatarairways @Boeing 747-8F A7-BGB lands in crosswinds @Schiphol on R27 during a Members show. A BA pilot recently told me the ‘procedures’ for landing the 747 in crosswinds. “Land her in the crab and swing the tail on touchdown, otherwise you can get caught out of shape” pic.twitter.com/dc0BuT3L1w
— BIG JET TV (@BigJetTVLIVE) March 13, 2022
The aircraft helped transport PPE and other medical equipment across the world, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among its unusual cargo were racing cars (30 can fit on a 747F) and thoroughbred racehorses (up to 90 horses can be carried in one flight).
“When we welcomed our Boeing 747 freighters to the Qatar Airways Cargo fleet seven years ago, we were responding to a sharp rise in customer demand for capacity, which we were quickly able to fulfil. Our Next Generation freighter strategy is based both on evolving customer expectations and our firm commitment on sustainability and efficiency. Efficiency is achieved through fleet harmonization and simplification, and sustainability is improved by the latest in-flight and fuel technology,” Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo, said.
Drusch added: “For these important factors, Qatar Airways Cargo is the launch customer for Boeing’s next generation 777-8F freighter, the most fuel efficient, lowest carbon footprint freighter in the cargo industry. We are committed to the most modern and cleanest freighter fleet in the industry.”
Qatar Airways Cargo has a firm order for 34 Boeing 777-8Fs, with options for 16 more, to augment its fleet of 27 Boeing 777 Freighters – the 28th 777F will join the fleet in mid-March 2024.
Both of Qatar Airways Cargo’s Boeing 747Fs will join the UPS fleet.
